Want a corkscrew Val that stays small? Vallisneria torta is the shortest of the twisted Vallisneria — light green, almost translucent spiral leaves reaching only about 8 inches, which makes it the only one that works in a nano tank or a genuine foreground.
What You’ll Receive
- Sold as Bare-root Plants, Bunched plants, or Potted plants
- Bare-root plants | approx. 2-3 loose, bare-root plants
- Bunched plants | approx. 2-3 rooted plants with foam, and lead weight
- Potted plants | approx. 2-3 rooted plants with net pot and rock wool
Plant Profile
- Common name — Torta Val, also known as Corkscrew Val
- Scientific name — Vallisneria torta
- Also known as — Vallisneria asiatica var. biwaensis (the identity is not firmly settled, and nurseries sell it as Torta)
- Origin — Asia
- Placement — Foreground to midground
- Shipped size — Approx. 2-3 plants, roughly 3-6 in
- Mature height — 4–8 in
- Suits — 10 gallons and up
- Growth rate — Fast
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Light — Low to medium. Brighter light tightens the spiral
- CO₂ — Not required
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.5–8.0. Tolerates hard, alkaline water well
- Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
- Growth habit — Fully aquatic
- Propagation — Substrate runners
Grower’s Notes
- This is the small one. Most Vallisneria run to the surface and trail along it. Torta tops out around eight inches, so it works as a foreground or midground group and suits nano tanks — the only twisted Val that does.
- Plant the crown at the substrate line, never below it. A buried crown rots — the usual reason a new Val fails in the first fortnight.
- Feed at the roots. In inert gravel it survives but barely spreads.
- Don't trim the tops to control height. Cut Val leaves brown at the cut — remove whole leaves at the base instead.
- Runners travel fast. Pull unwanted plantlets by hand rather than cutting them.
Choosing between our twisted Vallisneria
- Vallisneria torta (this plant) — shortest, 4–8 in, midground and nano tanks.
- Vallisneria americana 'Asiatica' — 8–12 in, with a wider twisted blade.
- Vallisneria 'Contortionist' — 10–20 in, with a narrower twisted blade. Background.
Want to go deeper? Read our complete Vallisneria Care Guide.
Notes
- Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Customers praised these aquarium plants for arriving in excellent condition with healthy roots and minimal damage. Most reviewers noted "great roots" and plants that were "healthy and beautiful." While one customer mentioned some yellowing, the majority experienced fast growth and runners. The delicate appearance enhances tank aesthetics.
- All plants were healthy with solid leaves and white crisp roots. All have grown well.
- The val had great roots, and plant itself looked fine!
- It adds something so delicate and graceful to the look of the tank.
B
Placed an order big enough to scape a 125 gallon aquarium. All plants came in healthy and beautiful. No items were missing, processing and shipping was very quick. Repeat customer and definitely recommend.
C
I ordered torta for my smaller, low tech betta tanks. I have never used Val before, but it adds something so delicate and graceful to the look of the tank. My pretty boi enjoys it too!
I received wonderful, healthy plants from APF.
H
Typically when I receive aquarium plants on the mail they are half mush and take awhile to recover. These plants were in pretty good shape with a minimum of browning. Now they may still melt down some. But I am encouraged by the way they arrived.
I
Upon unpacking, I inspected that the val had great roots, and plant itself looked fine! So far so good!
A
Hard to tell how these will settle in at the moment. They came a bit yellowed and tattered. I have other larger Val that I can practically grow in anything so I’m hoping these will do the same.
A
As per usual, my valis as well as everything else ordered came in perfectly fine. Very well packed and in great condition!
A
I really love this plant!! I got the buy 2 get 1 free, but each plant was actually several bound together. All plants were healthy with solid leaves and white crisp roots. All shipped well. Not a single piece of the three groups melted and all have grown well. I recommend this plant AND this seller.
T
How established should my tank be before planting. I have never tried live plants
Hi there,
Thank you for your question!
Vallisneria Torta is a hardy and beginner-friendly plant, so you don’t need a long-established tank to start growing it. You can plant it in a newly set-up tank, as long as:
The water is dechlorinated
The tank is cycled or in the process of cycling
You have stable lighting (moderate is enough)
Vallisneria adapts well and will begin sending out runners once it settles. Just avoid burying the crown of the plant—keep it slightly above the substrate so it doesn’t rot.
If you'd like any tips on planting or care, feel free to ask!
Best regards,
Aquarium Plants Factory®
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